The Curse of Oak Island S05E10

Synopsis

The team unearths a ship's log detailing the burial of treasure on an island eerily similar to Oak Island.

What I thought

At the Money Pit, excavation on H8 has reached 115ft. They are turning up a lot of wood from centuries of previous treasure hunters, most likely the Chappell shaft from early 1900s. The big hammer picker is being used to bring up all the spoils from within the casing as they head towards 150ft.

In War Room, researcher Doug Crowell Is back with the gang to reveal more: 6 pages of a ship’s log from a French fleet in 1700s who were on their way to battle the British and take back Nova Scotia. They failed due to sickness and weather to even begin the siege. Over 100 of them died on the crossing, including the duke in charge (who was a Larchwood). The log entry (in English??) says they decided to dig a pit on an island, of which references in the text suggest it’s in vicinity of Oak Island. Marty doubts it due to how “perfect” it is although I’m still wondering why it’s in English when it’s a French fleet?

Now that the casing is at 155ft and grabber at 150ft, Rick wants to go a little more carefully as it’s near where they believe the anomaly is that they found last week. Now, at this depth, the spoils first go to an area to be metal detected by Gary Drayton before being put on a custom-built wash table to be cleaned and searched more thoroughly. With the pressure of that water hose on the contents that Jack uses, I wouldn’t be surprised if he nukes any evidence! Gary has a few finds in the spoils; first a small metallic nail of sorts (it’s not really explained) before he comes up with a decent sized metal spike with some concrete still on it. This must be from Chappell vault as they didn’t have concrete hundreds of years ago. In the next spoils more goodies start to appear, like a pick n mix as there’s bone, pottery, bolts and glass. As the casing reaches 170ft, things grind to a halt as the chief guy controlling the equipment says that the pressure is so high he feels they are on top of something significant, although they feel it’s wood. Seems it’s not just the pressure from x millions spent that’s on everyone’s shoulders …

It’s time for a meeting to discuss what’s next which basically means they decide to keep going; didn’t see that coming did we? Rick is still worried about destroying any finds, which is sensible, although most of their methodology in the past has hardly been gentle. However, whilst the casing is given new teeth and the outer casing made permanent, Rick and Gary head to Smith’s Cove for more metal detection. Here they first find a modern bottle top before the discovery of the season so far; a lead cross!! Rick reckons it looks like the crosses etched on the wall of the castle room in France that he saw made by the Knight Templars. I see similarities, I agree. Gary reckons it’s old. Something like 1200s-1600s. It certainly looks crude and an old style. It’s got everyone excited, including me, as this appears to be a very significant find, and a fascinating one.

Rating: 8/10 – Numerous smaller finds from H8 show real promise, but the find of the cross just knocks the socks off everything else.

The grabber continues to get all the spoils from H8.

Gary does his metal magic.

Jack insures they keep the workload down by nuking any evidence in the spoils.

Gary finds a spike.

The spoils reveal more bone.

Jack relives his childhood by rolling in the mud.

Gary and Rick find a lead cross!

The Curse of Oak Island S05E09

Synopsis

A research expedition to a French castle reveals new clues, including ancient carvings that could link the Knights Templar to Oak Island.

What I thought

In Money Pit the large 50” hole in H8 is starting to take shape with only 10ft done thus far. Casing is being joined up and prepped but it’ll be several days until they get down to a decent depth of 200ft.

Meanwhile, in PARIS, Rick, Alex and Peter are off to meet their new researcher Nichola and head on a train to meet the Rochefoucauld family in Charente whilst nattering about the last 5 seasons and more of Oak Island history. Hopefully they didn’t do a narrator recap every 5 minutes to her. However, we do get a reminder of a large rock on Oak Island with symbols on it that was blown up in 1921 in the hope of finding treasure underneath but alas they found nothing and destroyed evidence in process. And to think I complain and the Laginas??? However, one small rock did remain with H O on it as well as a cross with symbols around it which the Knight’s Templar also had on their shields and that it might be written in Greek. The researcher is really convinced on the Templars being involved. At Rochefoucauld Castle, they are greeted by the curator to show them around. This castle begun being created in late 10^th century to protect against Vikings. Rick shows off the map with the family name on it. She says her family were involved in the crusades and may as well met the Templars, but she’s not heard of any evidence. She says the writing on that map is in Old French (or slang) and says the top right writing relates to ‘in the direction’ of, and not something about a drink that the researcher thought, who probably was consuming a few bottles whilst she was doing the translation! She gives them the keys to go down the tunnels underneath the castle which has no foundations but is instead on top of a large rock. It’s impressive down there but there’s no carvings, which she says is probably because they’ve been washed away as river used to be diverted down there. Now that’s how you clear up a mystery quickly!

Next day in France the team head to the village of Domme, were they met Jerry Glover, a Templar expert, who has arranged them to visit a 14^th century castle called The Dome; I see what they did there with the village name. The Knight Templars were arrested, imprisoned and executed here and thus spent a lot of time banged up in a building where they carved lots of various shapes on the wall (allegedly via their teeth!!!), of which the expert says to Rick that what Rick calls the Templar Cross isn’t exclusive to the Templars but more used by crusades. Rick also believes that one of the symbols looks like the Rochefoucauld family emblem. Is that a link? It’s safe to say that this expert gave more information about Templars than the Rochefoucauld lady although she did translate a bit of the map. There’s also a link, made by Rick, of the tree of life symbol to Nolan’s Cross. This concludes their visit to France, which in my view was totally unnecessary as all this information they could have got elsewhere or via the new technology called the Internet. Maybe Rick had built up some airmiles to use?

Back on Lot 24, Samuel Ball’s lot, with Gary the metal master, Laird the archaeologist, Marty and Jim. Laird has them doing things properly as they gradually remove dirt, sift it and slowly uncover more rocks. Laird thinks the stone formations indicate a man-made floor, but it’s not a large structure so maybe a lookout post? They also find some pottery that Laird dates to around 18^th century.

War Room meeting, everyone is back. They go over pretty much what we’ve just seen from their France visit. It’s the same old stuff regurgitated, as is the last minute of the episode as the casing in the Money Pit is shown drilling onwards to it’s first target of 100ft odd.

Rating 5/10 – I understand their visit to France but all of that could have been gained quicker and just as easily without heading anywhere. On the island, very little activity or progress.

More drilling in H8 as they reach a massive 10ft deep.

Bonjour! The 3 walk the streets of France.

This whole episode felt like a long train ride.

Laird has the gang doing things the right and long way.

Somebody's teapot is found in the lot. Ok, it's 18th century but could of been part of anything.

Despite an intercom and doorbell, Rick knocks on door, where of course the owner is waiting just behind.

The castle owner corrects the historian.

As Rick and Peter touch the ceiling, the historian prays all doesn't cave in.

Welcome to the Dome Castle!

Inside, they look at carvings by the Knight Templars.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E08

Dan's Breakthrough

Synopsis

New evidence confirms a European presence on Oak Island 100 years before the discovery of the Money Pit.

What I thought

The main 3, Rick, Marty and Craig, arrive in the Money Pit, which is now full of cranes and other machinery. We’re reminded of the GeoTech system for the 44^th time, which is handy because they apparently drilled 44 smaller holes to narrow down where the Money Pit was. Now, they begin to make the bigger 50” hole down the magic hole that is H8 using a rotating oscillator. Well, not quite yet, as they first use a JCB to start the hole, whilst Marty drops a coin down the current plastic coated H8 hole for “Good luck”. You know, if they don’t find that coin again, I’ll be worried. Anyhow, there’s more heavy-duty equipment yet to arrive before drilling commences.

In War Room, a small gang, including Dan Blankenship, assemble to hear results of carbon dating on those two bone fragments found deep down H8. The Middle East bone is dated to 1682-1736 with the European one dated 1678-1764. Puzzling. Naturally, the Knights Templar are mentioned once again as possibilities. They’ve got to be flavour of the month on Oak Island?

Back in that pub, a whole lot of the gang are there to meet historian Doug once more. We’re going back to last season now and the 14^th century hand drawn map from Zena Halpern, another researcher. See S04E12. On that same piece of paper that had that map was some text which Doug has researched and connected to a family of kings linked to the crusades. More research needed it seems Doug.

On Lot 16, north of Money Pit, Gary the metal detector wizard is with Jim, Ricky and Marty where two 17^th century coins had been discovered previously. First up, they find a small horseshoe. That’s lucky right? Well, it’s part of a horseshoe. There’s then discussion about the depressions in this area that look like wells but are believed to be search pits from previous treasure hunters. Next, Gary finds something a good 12 inches deep, finally digging up what Marty thinks is from a cannon. Possibly it’s ammunition called grapeshot. Not much further away, Gary digs up a coin, irregularly shaped (usually meaning old). It’s hard to see anything on it so it needs cleaning.

Alex, Peter and Jim (the regular researching gang it seems) go to meet Doug at the centre of geographic sciences some 80 miles away. It’s all about Rochefoucauld this time, the name on that map, and finding any links to that French family and Oak Island. There’s talk about Samuel de Champlain, a cartographer who made a 17^th century map that bizarrely omitted Mahone Bay, where Oak Island is located. They then find a book about Du Gua, who was one of the first settlers in Nova Scotia who has a family tree saying that a member of the Rochefoucauld  married into the Du Gua family. Fireworks go off, and more connections than a telephone exchange are made in gang’s minds. Rick and Alex meet later in War Room to chat to Nichola Lewis, a researcher in France via skype, who has been hired to help them liaise with the Rochefoucauld family. She’s setup a meeting with a Rochefoucauld who lives in the namesake castle. I feel a longer trip coming on.

At the Money Pit the gang inspect the grabber machinery and casing for H8. More equipment is then setup for the large casing drill site including a custom-built oscillator. No wonder it’s expensive! There’s an emotional moment as Ricky names the casing ‘Dan’s breakthrough’ and Jack writes with chalk ‘Forever Family’ on the casing in memory of his brother, before Dan Blankenship starts the oscillator going on H8. Oh, it’s starting to get exciting so it’s time to … Cue the credits …

Rating 5/10 - Drilling getting ready to commence, ammunition, an unidentified coin and more potentially wacky links to Oak Island, mean this is classic episode for the show.

Marty drops a coin for luck down H8.

Gary digs up a horseshoe.

... then a grapeshot

... then a coin!

A map with Oak Island omitted.

The casing for H8 is given an emotional naming.

Dan the man starts the oscillator on H8.

Star Wars Rebels S04E12 "Wolves and a Door" & S04E13 "A world between worlds"

Synopsis

Ezra and the Ghost crew learn the Empire has plans for the Jedi Temple on Lothal. While the other rebels engage the Imperial forces outside the Jedi temple, Ezra gains access inside and experiences a revelation.

What I thought

After the traumatic events of the previous double-episode, we're back with another two that are so closely aligned that to watch them in two parts is almost cruel. Thankfully, most of us get to see them back-to-back, as they really should be. If you thought Rebels could not ever be a touch on The Clone Wars, then think again, as it came mighty close here.

Leading straight on from last week, Ezra leads the gang via the Lothal style of public transportation, the Loth Wolves, who take the gang, via a force dimensional jump of sorts, to near where the Empire is busy in a quarry working on getting into the jedi temple. Yes, previously this temple was above ground but the Empire has been very busy digging deeper and trying to get in. They've hit a wall though. Literally. It's a wall with a mural on it that anyone who has seen The Clones Wars will recognize for it depicts the Mortis Gods. Sabine and Ezra sneak in disguise into the quarry to investigate the mural in a rather frank fashion. Security checks in the Empire are still not really up to much quality although I guess they don't suspect intruders. Via Chopper, they listen in to a transmission between the overseer of the quarry investigation, Minister Veris Hydan and ... THE EMPEROR! OMG. Yes, he's here and it's awesome. Ok, he's via hologram but just hearing and seeing him in conversation with the minister is brilliant and absorbing. And, what a joy it is to actually discover more about these background characters in terms of the minister, whom we've seen numerous times in Star Wars lurking around the Emperor, but never knowing what they actually do. Of course, in Rogue One, Vader had one of those robed men in his castle who actually spoke a few words, but this is the most we've ever seen of them and it's a great payoff for a long overdue years of wondering. It seems, as one might expect, they work for the Emperor and take on a somewhat Sith Religious Investigator role for he's there to find out more about the Jedi Temple on behalf of the Emperor who wants to unlock it's secrets which he knows will help him control the past and future.

Whilst Ezra checks out the mural closer, finally someone notices Sabine's stormtrooper disguise as she's randomly standing around in a secure location.  Ezra meanwhile, remembering the hand stone tablet he got from the Loth Wolves, presses in force wise on the Daughter's hands on the painting, which activates the painting, bringing it to life! This is an absolutely amazing sequence of events, watching parts of a painting light up, move and play out a scene. The loth wolves in the painting run away, which Ezra follows further along the wall until they form a circle which is the entrance to the portal. Guards finally notice all this fireworks and lights, alerting the minister, whom tries to stop Ezra but it's too late, as Ezra enters the portal.

Sabine is brought before the Minister. This is an extra opportunity to learn more about him. In a rather Thrawn like similarity, his office is full of various paintings. Because Sabine likes art and does graffiti, the Minister keeps her about to discuss the main painting. This is a little odd. She's hardly a renowned Turner Prize winner, but given he can't work out anything more about the painting, I guess he's desperate to please his Emperor. She reveals the hands are the key, something I'd have thought he'd have worked out by now.

Inside the portal we have a sort of stargate like look and feel as numerous shaped gateways are joined together by paths that are spread in all sorts of directions against the vast openness of black space. There's a lot of voices occasionally in the background, most of which we will recognize from the Star Wars universe. Drawn to the attention of a bird on top of one of the portal gates, Ezra sees Ahsoka Tano's battle with Vader from Series 2 appear. With Vader on the attack, Ezra reaches in to pull Ahsoka out of the battle! WTF? Yes, Ahsoka is back! In this world between world, it seems the past and future is sort of available on some level to those within the portal. In some ways it's made to look easy to do what you want in here, but I somewhat doubt it's anything like on-demand access to Time Travel. For starters, access was restricted to within the Temple, and via an instructional tablet. Also, why did Ezra see Ahsoka's battle out of a million and 1 other things he could have witnessed and been interested in from the past or future? He later does see Kanan's last stand from last week in another portal but is talked out of saving Kanan by Ahsoka. She knows that wouldn't be right, and would have condemned them all to death as Kanan couldn't save them last week without sacrificing himself. Quite how Ahsoka works this all out so quickly, with little information, I'll put aside for now. Taught a lesson, to let his master "go", there's a new threat as the Emperor appears behind one of the portal windows and starts firing force fire/lightning at them, trying it seems to capture them and thus help him link to the portal properly. Both escape via separate portals, barely, from the Emperor, with Ahsoka ending up back where she was on Malachor, and Ezra popping out in the quarry. Quite convenient that they both took the right portals, or is this just the will of the force guiding them?

With Chopper, Zeb and Hera causing all sorts of chaos for the Imperial forces and rescuing Sabine along the way, they help Ezra seal the portal (by way of force holding the Son's hand on the painting) and then leg it out of the quarry as everything starts to demolish itself, leading to the temple eventually disappearing and just barren land remaining. 

Although it seems this was guidance by the loth wolves to save the temple from the Empire, it was also somewhat somehow contrived by Kanan as a last lesson for Ezra. Exactly how Ahsoka played into proceedings, either by the will of the loth wolves, Kanan or just the force, I don't know. Also, the Empire must have been working on this temple for many months, if not years, but at 11th hour the wolves let Ezra know?

Sure, there's a few questions generated but this is a magnificent episode that is absolutely gorgeously rendered, not least by the animated painting, which is simply the best thing I've seen in a cartoon ever. We also get the Emperor, who steals every scene he's in, and learn more about his minions and what he's getting up to now that he's leaving running the actual Empire to his subordinates.

Rating - 9/10 - Things don't get much better than this, although a little more context would have helped me just a tad.

What I liked

• The Emperor - he's a showstopper!
• Minster Veris Hydan - learning about him and these servants of the Emperor was totally engaging.
• Death Troopers! They even spoke in code for once.
• Painting design and movement is best thing ever in a cartoon.
• The internal workings of the portal just create so many questions!
• Ahsoka Tano - need I say more?

What I didn't like

• Unsure what the "point" was here. It's said that it was Kanan's last lesson, but it really was to shut down the portal I guess? Did Kanan have any input into Ashoka in this? There's a little something here missing that I can't put my finger on.

The quickest way across Lothal is via the Loth Wolves.

Very Indiana Jones like, this is the quarry.

Here's the minister, complete with a hump.

Moooorrreeeeeeeee, give me mooorrreeee Emperor.

Absolutely no one else notices Sabine and Ezra in the restricted zone.

The painting comes to life!

The wolves form the gateway.

Inside the portal, stargate style!

Don't fall!

Ezra rescues Ahsoka.

But leaves Kanan.

Sabine and the Minister talk art.

The Emperor tries to get inside the portal.

Ezra deactivates the portal.